Eyal Crossing, Irtah (Sha’ar Efrayim)
4:10 We arrived late, the first workers had already gotten through. We approached the separation barrier and discovered that a high, solid metal fence had been put up, with barbed wire on top, the entire length of the wire fence between Israeli territory and Area C. We couldn't see the line of people waiting beyond the revolving gates, we couldn't speak to anyone, we couldn't see young men climbing on the roof to jump to the start of the line. We didn't hear roars of complaint as we have on previous occasions. However, since the new fence cut us off from any human contact with the people in line, we didn't stay there long, and can't know if they shouted protests later.
The entrance to through the revolving gates is still in pulses. They fill up the outer yard and stop, until the yard empties and they open the gates again.
4:20 We move around to the side where workers exit the facility into Israel. A solid fence blocks off part of what used to be the available space. The lavatories have been moved. The area is densely crowded. Above the top of the fence a building site can be seen, significant progress in setting up a planned commercial center, which is the reason the workers' space was cut down.
The workers come out of the facility at an impressive rate. A crowd gathers at the single revolving exit gate. A guard announces that he's opening a gate next to the revolving one, but when the workers try it it doesn't budge.
In a phone conversation with the manager of the checkpoint, he says the reason for the new fence between Israel and Area C is that they've begun building the new entry facility that we saw in plans months ago. Work is progressing simultaneously on the commercial center and the new entry facility, which will have a separate line for women.
4:40 We leave for the Eyal checkpoint.
When we arrive at Eyyal, we see there are buses for workers to various locations. At Irtach there are only rides supplied by employers, and gypsy cabs.
Large crowds are already outside. In open air someone is leading a mass prayer session. We asked and were told that this is a daily occurrence, not anything special.
5:15. We left
Eyal Checkpoint / Crossing
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Eyal Checkpoint is intended for pedestrians and Palestinians only. This is the main barrier for workers to cross from the center of the West Bank. Workers with a work permit to enter Israel can pass through it for trade, medicine, and visiting prisoners. The checkpoint was built on the Green Line north of Qalqilya in the separation barrier that surrounds the city. The checkpoint began operating in 2004 by the military. Opening hours on weekdays from 04:00 to 19:00. We started holding shifts there in 2007. We arrived at the checkpoint before it opened at 4 in the morning. We reported on the difficult conditions and the long and cramped queues of workers who must continue their journey by commuting to work throughout Israel. At the end of June 2009, the checkpoint was operated by a civil security company, The transit time has been gradually shortened, today it is faster, but the Palestinians still have to arrive very early to make it to the transportation. Usually, about 15,000 people pass through.
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Irtah (Sha'ar Efrayim)
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The checkpoint is for Palestinians only. It is the main barrier to the passage of workers from the northern West Bank to Israel. Workers with a permit to work in Israel and also for trade (with appropriate permissions), medicine, and visiting prisoners. One can cross the checkpoint only on foot. The checkpoint is located north of Road 557 and south of Tulkarm. Operated by a civil security company, opening hours: between 4:00 and 19:00 on weekdays. As members of Machsom Watch, we began our shifts to this location in 2007. We arrived before it opened at 4 in the morning and report since, on the harsh conditions and the long and crowded queues of workers. The workers who pass by continue their journey by transportation to work throughout Israel. In the first period of its activity, about 3,000 and then 5,000 people passed through this checkpoint every day. Due to the small number of checking points and arbitrary delays for long periods of time in the "rooms", workers feared losing their transportation. Hence workers leave their homes at 2:30 at night to be among the first. Today, 15,000 pass and the transition is faster. Workers are still leaving their homes very early to get past the checkpoint at 7 p.m. In an adjacent compound, there is a terminal for the transfer of goods on a commercial scale, using the back-to-back method.
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